Page 142 of The Secret We Keep
“It’s a surprise.”
Kiss.
“When do we go?”
I know I have to see Tom this weekend. “Next Friday?”
Kiss.
“It’s a date,” she says, stealing one last kiss before sliding her body down my front.
Jesus Christ.
“Are you okay?” she asks gently.
“I just need a minute before we go back inside.” I look up thinking of anything other than the girl now sinking her teeth into her bottomlip as she smiles widely at me. “And I’m going to need you to stop doingthat.”
She giggles. “Sorry.”
“So, no one else knows?”
Her head swings side to side. “Only you, Paddy O’Keefe.”
And that right there is all I needed to hear. “Time to celebrate then, curly fries. Come on, I have something for you.” Grabbing her hand, I drag her back inside, past the prying rabble and into my room.
“What are you doing?” she asks, a little taken aback.
I pull the giant box from underneath the bed. “Here.” I hold it out to her.
Curious eyes search me. “What is it?”
“Open it.” I smile as she takes it.
“It’s heavy.” She drops it carefully to the bed and pulls one end open.
“Been wanting you to have this for months.”
“Months?” She laughs, pulling out the polystyrene.
“One part needed shipping in.”
Morgan’s breath hitches when she pulls out her old typewriter. “Paddy?” She stares at it before turning to me. Her glassy eyes widen, and a smile slowly blooms in wonder. “Is this mine?”
“Yeah, curly fries. Fully restored.”
Mouth open wide in amazement, Morgan stares at the old machine now in her hands. “How did you fix it?”
“I know a guy in London. Picked it up off your dad around your birthday.”
Her eyes meet mine. “He gave it to you?”
My lips pinch. “Um, no. Actually, it was your mum who handed it over.”
She laughs, and it’s like music to my ears. “I can’t believe you did this.” She takes a moment simply taking in the typewriter she used to love using. “This means so much.”
“I know it does. That’s why I wanted you to have it working again. Pretty good timing, don’t you think?”
“You can say that again.” Placing it on the bed, she stands straight before taking my face in her hands. My world lights up, and time holds its breath with me as I take her in. “Thank you.”
